This summer in Egypt, extreme heat prompted the managers of a 40-hectare orchard in the Nile Delta to take extraordinary measures, such as wrapping each mango with paper and applying kaolin clay to oranges as a protective shield against the scorching temperatures. This summer has been declared the hottest on record, with temperatures in mid-November still surpassing 30ºC, almost 10ºC higher than the historical norm for this time of year.
Climate change-induced rising sea levels are not only causing erosion along Egypt's Mediterranean coastline but are also rapidly salinating the fertile farmlands in the crucial Nile Delta, a region vital for the nation's agriculture. Simultaneously, prolonged and hotter summers are increasing costs and reducing yields for farmers, creating a ripple effect on consumers already grappling with soaring inflation amid economic challenges.
Renowned climate change and agriculture expert Waleed Ramadan noted the shift in growing patterns, stating, "What used to be grown only in southern Egypt, where it's hotter than the rest of the country, is now being grown in the north. And the crops that are normally grown in September or October are now put back to November and December when the weather is cooler."
This alteration in productivity not only impacts local markets, leading to higher prices, but also affects the export season, with strawberries, for example, competing against superior quality produce from countries like Morocco and Spain, extending Egypt's export season into May and June.
Source: www.thenationalnews.com